Being John Malkovich

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When puppeteer Craig Schwartz (John Cusack) discovers a door that's, in fact, a portal into actor John Malkovich's brain, he concocts a plot to sell 15-minute excursions into Malkovich's mind -- and the ultimate head trip -- for $200 a pop. Spike Jonze directs this uncommon dramedy from writer Charlie Kaufman, co-starring Cameron Diaz as Craig's wife, Catherine Keener as his co-worker and Malkovich as himself.
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Netflix Rating: 3.4
NYT Critics' Pick: Getting inside a movie star's head. Endearingly nutty. Read the review
Rotten Tomatoes: Fresh 92%: Consensus: Being John Malkovich is both funny and smart, featuring a highly original script.
Fresh: 107 Rotten: 9 Rotten Tomatoes page
Top Rotten Tomatoes Critics: Devilishly inventive and so far out there it's almost off the scale. full review

David Rooney, Variety

This outrageous comic fantasy may not sustain its brilliance throughout its 112 minutes, but it keeps cooking for so much of that time that I don't have many complaints. full review

Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader

By the time the tunnel worthy of the likes of Gulliver and Alice becomes a freeway clogged with bit players, a big chill has descended on all the characters. full review

Andrew Sarris, New York Observer

It is hard to mix moods -- the film is manic, subtle, comic and vaguely sad -- but [Jonze] does it masterfully. full review

Jeff Millar, Houston Chronicle

It's clever, witty, dark and, most importantly, unwaveringly bizarre. full review

Jeff Strickler, Minneapolis Star Tribune

It's tremendously entertaining, and probably worthy of repeat viewings. full review

Edward Guthmann, San Francisco Chronicle

Wonderfully inventive, wickedly funny, and thoughtful enough to keep your mind on full alert, it's a square peg in the round world of genre films. full review

Rick Groen, Globe and Mail

The most excitingly original movie of the year. full review

Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly

Dazzlingly singular movies aren't often this much fun. full review

Peter Rainer, New York Magazine

Cusack and Diaz are adorable schlumps.

John Anderson, Newsday

Either Being John Malkovich gets nominated for best picture, or the members of the Academy need portals into their brains. full review

Roger Ebert, At the Movies

Mr. Jonze's film, with a terrific original screenplay by Charlie Kaufman, is not the first to explore the prospect of being able to sneak into the mind of another person. But Mr. Jonze's version is definitely the most fun. full review

Janet Maslin, New York Times

Surreal to the point of poeticism.

Gemma Files, Film.com

Weird to the max, smart, sneaky as a Wall Street pickpocket and revved up with cruel wit and brazen imagination, Being John Malkovich is a dark movie comedy that you couldn't forget if you tried.

Michael Wilmington, Chicago Tribune

A hellacious ride. full review

Andrew O'Hehir, Salon.com

Full of creativity. full review

Desson Thomson, Washington Post

A hilariously novel conception.

Robert Horton, Film.com

Being John Malkovich, which contains not a frame of extraneous footage, is more than a must-see movie: It's a must - see - more - than - once event.

Lou Lumenick, New York Post

Unlike most comedies, which go for laughs without worrying about depth, Being John Malkovich has both. full review

James Berardinelli, ReelViews

Different from anything that came before it.

Elizabeth Weitzman, Film.com